So, coronavirus...

[frodder]

If the UK government has overspun the new variant story to justify Boris Johnson's latest U-turn, and it results in all national borders closing to the British on the eve of Brexit, he really will have excelled himself.

Would be very Johnson this. Very Johnson.

Absolutely nailed it. The variant was a London lockdown/Tier 4 version of the 4k dead per day we had for lockdown 2.0. However this time we've really fudged up even for the UKs highest of high standards

[tc27]

If the UK government has overspun the new variant story to justify Boris Johnson's latest U-turn, and it results in all national borders closing to the British on the eve of Brexit, he really will have excelled himself.

Would be very Johnson this. Very Johnson.

Absolutely nailed it. The variant was a London lockdown/Tier 4 version of the 4k dead per day we had for lockdown 2.0. However this time we've really fudged up even for the UKs highest of high standards

Not sure this is the case as it would have required NERVTAG to fake paperwork. Last minute panicked reaction reaction fits this government better than a sinister plan.

IMO its just as likely the UK detected this new strain because it has excellent sequencing capability and did the right thing and announced it. I bet all the change on my pockets its spread all across Western Europe.

[I like neeps]

If the UK government has overspun the new variant story to justify Boris Johnson's latest U-turn, and it results in all national borders closing to the British on the eve of Brexit, he really will have excelled himself.

Would be very Johnson this. Very Johnson.

Absolutely nailed it. The variant was a London lockdown/Tier 4 version of the 4k dead per day we had for lockdown 2.0. However this time we've really fudged up even for the UKs highest of high standards

Not sure this is the case as it would have required NERVTAG to fake paperwork. Last minute panicked reaction reaction fits this government better than a sinister plan.

IMO its just as likely the UK detected this new strain because it has excellent sequencing capability and did the right thing and announced it. I bet all the change on my pockets its spread all across Western Europe.

It's clearly serious but the UK govt alerted European governments to this on Wednesday. And only Saturday cancelled Christmas despite on Wednesday saying it was going ahead but then alerting everyone to this new strain. Odd timings and behaviour.

[tc27]

Absolutely nailed it. The variant was a London lockdown/Tier 4 version of the 4k dead per day we had for lockdown 2.0. However this time we've really fudged up even for the UKs highest of high standards

Not sure this is the case as it would have required NERVTAG to fake paperwork. Last minute panicked reaction reaction fits this government better than a sinister plan.

IMO its just as likely the UK detected this new strain because it has excellent sequencing capability and did the right thing and announced it. I bet all the change on my pockets its spread all across Western Europe.

It's clearly serious but the UK govt alerted European governments to this on Wednesday. And only Saturday cancelled Christmas despite on Wednesday saying it was going ahead but then alerting everyone to this new strain. Odd timings and behaviour.

Well announcing changes in policy and reporting findings as a responsible member of the WHO are distinct matters.

TBH if the new strain is anywhere near as infectious as suspected we are in deep poo..lockdowns will only slightly decrease the R but not enough to to bring it below 1. The only way out of the hole is going to be to vaccinate as quickly as possible.

[Hong Kong]

hopefully not red rebel

[Jock42]

She is a fairly senior physio, and semi retired so can always take up a teaching role. My feeling just now is to be ultra cautious until vaccination is well established. We've done 9 months of this shite so 3 more shouldn't be too bad

Info on my PGD states that immunosuppressed individuals may not make a full immune response to the vaccine and should continue to take appropriate measures to protect themselves.

[robmatic]

If the UK government has overspun the new variant story to justify Boris Johnson's latest U-turn, and it results in all national borders closing to the British on the eve of Brexit, he really will have excelled himself.

Would be very Johnson this. Very Johnson.

Absolutely nailed it. The variant was a London lockdown/Tier 4 version of the 4k dead per day we had for lockdown 2.0. However this time we've really fudged up even for the UKs highest of high standards

Not sure this is the case as it would have required NERVTAG to fake paperwork. Last minute panicked reaction reaction fits this government better than a sinister plan.

IMO its just as likely the UK detected this new strain because it has excellent sequencing capability and did the right thing and announced it. I bet all the change on my pockets its spread all across Western Europe.

The UK media did their bit and made sure to sensationalise and highlight it as a story though. There was clearly going to be a lockdown anyway because of the quite predictable hospital admissions data but they went with the more dramatic angle as much as they could.

[Hal Jordan]

Anyone got any good recipes for unicorn?

[Slick]

Xmas cancelled. Christians gutted.

Muslims pissing themselves after we tried to stop Ramadan gatherings earlier this year.

They have some right to be, at least they take all that praying bollocks seriously...

Pretty daft comments to be honest. If there is one thing that bring people of all faiths, cultures and communities in the UK together its Christmas. Might have made sense if it was still a religious festival for most people, but it's not, it's a time to get together with family and friends.

[Bimbowomxn]

What a tremendously odd thing to say. Health systems haven’t collapsed anywhere.

White man speaks with forked tongue.

Dr Bimbo.

Where in the world have health systems “collapsed”. ?

[Bimbowomxn]

If the UK government has overspun the new variant story to justify Boris Johnson's latest U-turn, and it results in all national borders closing to the British on the eve of Brexit, he really will have excelled himself.

Would be very Johnson this. Very Johnson.

Absolutely nailed it. The variant was a London lockdown/Tier 4 version of the 4k dead per day we had for lockdown 2.0. However this time we've really fudged up even for the UKs highest of high standards

Not sure this is the case as it would have required NERVTAG to fake paperwork. Last minute panicked reaction reaction fits this government better than a sinister plan.

IMO its just as likely the UK detected this new strain because it has excellent sequencing capability and did the right thing and announced it. I bet all the change on my pockets its spread all across Western Europe.

You know that the estimates regarding its transmission are all modelled numbers though.

This is currently a scare to lock us down, and make vaccine compliance higher.

[Glaston]

If the UK government has overspun the new variant story to justify Boris Johnson's latest U-turn, and it results in all national borders closing to the British on the eve of Brexit, he really will have excelled himself.

Would be very Johnson this. Very Johnson.

Absolutely nailed it. The variant was a London lockdown/Tier 4 version of the 4k dead per day we had for lockdown 2.0. However this time we've really fudged up even for the UKs highest of high standards

/Tinfoil hat

Or he waited till his mp's were out of the Commons.

[Bimbowomxn]

It's clearly serious but the UK govt alerted European governments to this on Wednesday. And only Saturday cancelled Christmas despite on Wednesday saying it was going ahead but then alerting everyone to this new strain. Odd timings and behaviour.

This.....


They took an “option” out on Christmas being ok, like the took an option out on Cheltenham in March. They’re planning these options for politics and eventual public enquiries as much anything else.

[Sandstorm]

White man speaks with forked tongue.

Dr Bimbo.

Where in the world have health systems “collapsed”. ?

Eastern Cape, South Africa

[frodder]

If the UK government has overspun the new variant story to justify Boris Johnson's latest U-turn, and it results in all national borders closing to the British on the eve of Brexit, he really will have excelled himself.

Would be very Johnson this. Very Johnson.

Absolutely nailed it. The variant was a London lockdown/Tier 4 version of the 4k dead per day we had for lockdown 2.0. However this time we've really fudged up even for the UKs highest of high standards

/Tinfoil hat

Or he waited till his mp's were out of the Commons.

Bingo, all this to show he's a great guy at PMQs. That's the point

[Raggs]

Just to point out, other European countries may well have this strain already, it may have even started elsewhere, it's just even according to the Dutch, the UK has the most sophisticated covid19 genomic monitoring. Saw a figure showing that we sequence infections 140 times more than Italy.





On another note, Los Angeles appears to now be moving towards not treating everyone equally, but only those with the best chance of survival.

https://www.latimes.com/california/stor ... -rationing

[dpedin]

It's been kept on standby at a cost if £1.2 million per month since it was "shut down". Flick a switch and get the staff and it could accept patients tomorrow

Let’s be clear 1.2 million is absolutely fuck all in the scheme of things.

Considering 25% of our infections are occurring in hospital how we didn’t keep them actually open for “safe” areas or “covid” isolation is another crime.

Some of the health professionals that post on here might be able to give more detail but is the problem with the Nightengale’s throughout the U.K. a complete lack of staff to get them running in addition to existing capacity?

Yep!

[SaintK]

You're explicitly allowed to travel into Tier 4 to reach a port, wheather Heathrow, Dover, or Folkestone. If for non- work then you are asked to consider if you really should, but it's your discretion.

Folkestone had trouble today with cars - not just freight. Reason being that they had cops on the border checking where people has travelled from - if from Tier 4 they were turned around, which slowed up everything apparently

“If you live outside a tier 4 area you may still transit into or through a tier 4 area to travel abroad if you need to, but you should carefully consider whether you need to do so.”

But that just leaves it up to the individual and how determined/selfish they are to be somewhere else for Xmas.

Once again the Govt is hoping each person will do the right thing and we know how that works out.

The guidance is full of “for example” and “you should consider it carefully”

Madness as our Kiwi friend said!

I assume the timing of the announcement was so that the Tory MPs could scuttle back to their constituencies before the lockdown; & avoid looking the hypocritical cunts; as usual.....

No, all the announcements were after recess had begun. It was so the government could not be questioned or held to account in par;liament. Particularly by the "Ultras" on their own back benches

[robmatic]

Dr Bimbo.

Where in the world have health systems “collapsed”. ?

Eastern Cape, South Africa

Lombardy, quite famously.

My mate's 80-year old dad had covid in New York back in March and they were trying to send him home from the hospital when he wasn't able to breathe unassisted. Pretty sure that's a sign of a health system that isn't functioning properly.

[Raggs]

Where in the world have health systems “collapsed”. ?

Eastern Cape, South Africa

Lombardy, quite famously.

My mate's 80-year old dad had covid in New York back in March and they were trying to send him home from the hospital when he wasn't able to breathe unassisted. Pretty sure that's a sign of a health system that isn't functioning properly.

Absolutely, wasn't it anyone over 65 not getting put into intensive care? Sweden had guidelines out about prioritising those under 80 or not morbidly obese sent out too. Plus reports of lots of people in care homes just getting morphine rather than moving them to hospitals.

[dpedin]

What a feckin shitshow this is now turning into! The numbers emerging from London and SE and Wales are fairly awful and coupled with winter etc will overwhelm the NHS down there. These numbers are baked in, modellers know what these numbers mean in terms of hospital admissions, ICU demand and deaths. The modelling must have scared the Gov shitless. For example, Havering had 1060 cases per 100,000 for last 7 days, FFS. The Gov have let this get completely out of control and if there is any sniff of them not taking action earlier because of political issues i.e. , not wanting to cancel Xmas, waiting until recess, then they should be sacked and taken to court. Delaying action even by a few days will result in many more deaths. I feel sorry for the NHS staff down there as they know what shit will be coming down the line and it will happen over Xmas and New Year, they have had enough. Expect a strict lock down now for next 2-3 months, we've not even had winter weather yet. Coupled with current border issues and Brexit in 2 weeks this is a complete and utter shitshow. Blonde Bumblecunt and his Brexit Ultras have a lot to answer for.

[Rinkals]

Anyone got any good recipes for unicorn?

It's pretty much cooked already, isn't it?

[dpedin]

Eastern Cape, South Africa

Lombardy, quite famously.

My mate's 80-year old dad had covid in New York back in March and they were trying to send him home from the hospital when he wasn't able to breathe unassisted. Pretty sure that's a sign of a health system that isn't functioning properly.

Absolutely, wasn't it anyone over 65 not getting put into intensive care? Sweden had guidelines out about prioritising those under 80 or not morbidly obese sent out too. Plus reports of lots of people in care homes just getting morphine rather than moving them to hospitals.

Careful guys, he will be back here in a moment telling you all that your definition of 'collapse' is wrong and all the health services have never been close to collapse.

I reckon within next 30 days most of the NHS will be into Emergency, Cancer and Covid19 only services with almost all but most urgent elective work being cancelled till after Easter and minors (i.e. most of A%E) dealt with in community. Difficult decisions about how to deploy staff coming up - devote as many as possible to vaccination (subject to ongoing supply) over next 2-3 months and hope that creates a tunnel for escaping this shitstorm or staff hospitals to deal with emergencies, covid19 and cancers and to keep some more 'urgent' electives going. All we need next is a Beast from the East, or even a bad spell of snow and frost etc. One plus point is that most NHS and care home staff in my area will be vaccinated by mid-end of January so we shouldn't have the same staff absences that we had in first wave.

[Ted.]

Dr Bimbo.

Where in the world have health systems “collapsed”. ?

Eastern Cape, South Africa

More examples are/were, large swaths of Peru, Brazil and the US, unless of course you are well off.

Oh look, over there, a squirrel!

https://www.latimes.com/california/stor ... -rationing

Cheers, Raggs.

[tc27]

Lombardy, quite famously.

My mate's 80-year old dad had covid in New York back in March and they were trying to send him home from the hospital when he wasn't able to breathe unassisted. Pretty sure that's a sign of a health system that isn't functioning properly.

Absolutely, wasn't it anyone over 65 not getting put into intensive care? Sweden had guidelines out about prioritising those under 80 or not morbidly obese sent out too. Plus reports of lots of people in care homes just getting morphine rather than moving them to hospitals.

Careful guys, he will be back here in a moment telling you all that your definition of 'collapse' is wrong and all the health services have never been close to collapse.

I reckon within next 30 days most of the NHS will be into Emergency, Cancer and Covid19 only services with almost all but most urgent elective work being cancelled till after Easter and minors (i.e. most of A%E) dealt with in community. Difficult decisions about how to deploy staff coming up - devote as many as possible to vaccination (subject to ongoing supply) over next 2-3 months and hope that creates a tunnel for escaping this shitstorm or staff hospitals to deal with emergencies, covid19 and cancers and to keep some more 'urgent' electives going. All we need next is a Beast from the East, or even a bad spell of snow and frost etc. One plus point is that most NHS and care home staff in my area will be vaccinated by mid-end of January so we shouldn't have the same staff absences that we had in first wave.

If the R rate of this new variant is as bad as speculated then we literally have nothing to do other than wait vaccination - even lockdowns wont work,

[Saint]

Absolutely, wasn't it anyone over 65 not getting put into intensive care? Sweden had guidelines out about prioritising those under 80 or not morbidly obese sent out too. Plus reports of lots of people in care homes just getting morphine rather than moving them to hospitals.

Careful guys, he will be back here in a moment telling you all that your definition of 'collapse' is wrong and all the health services have never been close to collapse.

I reckon within next 30 days most of the NHS will be into Emergency, Cancer and Covid19 only services with almost all but most urgent elective work being cancelled till after Easter and minors (i.e. most of A%E) dealt with in community. Difficult decisions about how to deploy staff coming up - devote as many as possible to vaccination (subject to ongoing supply) over next 2-3 months and hope that creates a tunnel for escaping this shitstorm or staff hospitals to deal with emergencies, covid19 and cancers and to keep some more 'urgent' electives going. All we need next is a Beast from the East, or even a bad spell of snow and frost etc. One plus point is that most NHS and care home staff in my area will be vaccinated by mid-end of January so we shouldn't have the same staff absences that we had in first wave.

If the R rate of this new variant is as bad as speculated then we literally have nothing to do other than wait vaccination - even lockdowns wont work,

Well they might - but it would need everyone to strictly obey them. Fat chance of that

[frodder]

Yeh, the return of panic buying stories in the MSM

[tabascoboy]

And now the South African variant

South Africa’s new variant of Covid-19 was discovered earlier this month, when scientists noticed a number of mutations during routine surveillance of the virus. Local scientists say that South Africa’s new variant appears to be unrelated to the new variant found in the UK.

But it does share one important mutation affecting the way the virus attaches to human cells - and scientists speculate that’s what’s behind the faster transmission of this virus.

Researchers in the UK say the mutated virus there is 70% more transmissible. But experts in South Africa say they are still gathering data on this – but expect this may be the case here too.

In South Africa the new variant was first discovered in the Eastern Cape province - it has since spread to the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The country recently entered a second wave of infections - which has led to new regulations to try to slow the spread of the disease, including the closure of some of the major beaches.

[Biffer]

Anyone got any good recipes for unicorn?

It's pretty much cooked already, isn't it?

I thought we'd sold our unicorn quota to the Spanish.

[tc27]

[Bimbowomxn]

Where in the world have health systems “collapsed”. ?

Eastern Cape, South Africa

More examples are/were, large swaths of Peru, Brazil and the US, unless of course you are well off.

Oh look, over there, a squirrel!

https://www.latimes.com/california/stor ... -rationing

Cheers, Raggs.

Sorry, you’re claiming that the US health system has collapsed ?


Give your head a wobble.

[Bimbowomxn]

Health care collapse

https://businesstech.co.za/news/trendin ... ty-strain/


“Capacity strain”

Or.

Entry 1 of 2) intransitive verb. 1 : to fall or shrink together abruptly and completely : fall into a jumbled or flattened mass through the force of external pressure a blood vessel that collapsed. 2 : to break down completely : disintegrate …

This goes for everywhere, words actually have a meaning.

[westport]

Absolutely nailed it. The variant was a London lockdown/Tier 4 version of the 4k dead per day we had for lockdown 2.0. However this time we've really fudged up even for the UKs highest of high standards

Not sure this is the case as it would have required NERVTAG to fake paperwork. Last minute panicked reaction reaction fits this government better than a sinister plan.

IMO its just as likely the UK detected this new strain because it has excellent sequencing capability and did the right thing and announced it. I bet all the change on my pockets its spread all across Western Europe.

It's clearly serious but the UK govt alerted European governments to this on Wednesday. And only Saturday cancelled Christmas despite on Wednesday saying it was going ahead but then alerting everyone to this new strain. Odd timings and behaviour.

Not really odd timings

https://khub.net/documents/135939561/33 ... 8491166921

[Rinkals]

Health care collapse

https://businesstech.co.za/news/trendin ... ty-strain/


“Capacity strain”

Or.

Entry 1 of 2) intransitive verb. 1 : to fall or shrink together abruptly and completely : fall into a jumbled or flattened mass through the force of external pressure a blood vessel that collapsed. 2 : to break down completely : disintegrate …

This goes for everywhere, words actually have a meaning.

Is that a tacit admission that the UK's healthcare system has deteriorated to the point where comparison with a rural facility in a third world country is valid?

Or are you referring to US healthcare, which isn't so much a system as a wealth-creation opportunity? Or so it appears.

[dpedin]

Hearing there are worries that the forthcoming shit storm might be worse than most folk expect. Not looking good I'm afraid, stay safe.

[yermum]

happy new year

[Sandstorm]

Where in the world have health systems “collapsed”. ?

Eastern Cape, South Africa

Lombardy, quite famously.

My mate's 80-year old dad had covid in New York back in March and they were trying to send him home from the hospital when he wasn't able to breathe unassisted. Pretty sure that's a sign of a health system that isn't functioning properly.

Tehran. Clusterfuck in hospitals since 1 Feb.

[Raggs]

Eastern Cape, South Africa

Lombardy, quite famously.

My mate's 80-year old dad had covid in New York back in March and they were trying to send him home from the hospital when he wasn't able to breathe unassisted. Pretty sure that's a sign of a health system that isn't functioning properly.

Tehran. Clusterfuck in hospitals since 1 Feb.

Brazil too is another that had no space in intensive care.

EDIT - Oh, and Spain too.

[Bimbowomxn]

Let’s be clear 1.2 million is absolutely fuck all in the scheme of things.

Considering 25% of our infections are occurring in hospital how we didn’t keep them actually open for “safe” areas or “covid” isolation is another crime.

Some of the health professionals that post on here might be able to give more detail but is the problem with the Nightengale’s throughout the U.K. a complete lack of staff to get them running in addition to existing capacity?

Yep!

They’ve had 7 months to plan for this, train what’s required, segregate staff according to where’s they’re required and maybe they should have prioritised vaccines for those working “covid” , they’re a large central planned organisation which doesn’t even do well within that strength.

[Bimbowomxn]

Eastern Cape, South Africa

Lombardy, quite famously.

My mate's 80-year old dad had covid in New York back in March and they were trying to send him home from the hospital when he wasn't able to breathe unassisted. Pretty sure that's a sign of a health system that isn't functioning properly.

Tehran. Clusterfuck in hospitals since 1 Feb.

Agreed, the Australian health service is as good as Iran’s,